MALIBU, Calif. – Having never trailed in the match, the No. 14 Pacific men's water polo program gutted out a 13-12 victory over No. 8 Pepperdine on Friday at Raleigh Runnels Memorial Pool.
 
The match was tied 10-10 in the fourth quarter when freshman Apostolos Georgaras and sophomore Yoav Rendler scored goals to put Pacific (9-5, 3-1 WCC) ahead 12-10 with 3:03 left. Pepperdine (10-8, 0-2 WCC) twice cut it to a one-goal deficit in the final three minutes but the Tigers effectively ran out the clock.
 
Pacific led for nearly the entire match. The Tigers were in front 10-7 after a goal by Rendler at the 3:43 mark of the third quarter and held off a rally by the Waves.
 
Reigning WCC Newcomer of the Week winner Kiss Gergely, a freshman goalkeeper, upped his career-high to 14 saves. He protected the net with a .538 save percentage.
 
Offensively, Georgaras continued to pace the Tigers with four goals to go along with four steals. Sophomore Ori Buzaglo aided the attack with a hat trick.
 
Rendler registered two goals and two assists, while freshman Borisz Kasa-Gal recorded a goal and two assists. Senior Daniel Viscia and freshman Petar Popovic each notched a goal and an assist.
 
It was a big win for the Tigers who were riding momentum after an identical 13-12 score over No. 7 San Jose State last weekend. Pacific has won seven of the last eight against Pepperdine, which included a 14-8 home victory last year that clinched the WCC Regular Season Championship.
 
The Tigers will conclude the weekend with another critical road match Sunday at No. 10 LMU at 1p.m. at the Burns Center. Pacific is 13-6 all-time against the Lions and beat them twice last year, once at home and once in a non-conference match in Los Angeles.
 
Tigers Tickets
Tickets for upcoming events can be purchased through the PacificTigers.com tickets tab, or by calling the Box Office at 209-946-2474. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount and exclusive fan experiences.
 
Stay Social
For all the latest on Pacific men's water polo, be sure to follow the team on X (@UOPWaterPoloU), Instagram (@pacificwaterpolo) and "like" the team's official Facebook page (Pacific Men's Water Polo).
 
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